Elastic-fluid turbine.



R. N. EHRHART. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1906.RENEWED SEPT. 28, 1909.

953,521; Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES: I I /j g fZTTbRNEY R. N. EHRHART.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

urmoumn EILEE ME. 31, 1906. RENEWED sEPT. 28, mg.

953,521, Patented Man 29, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNES SES: V INVENTOR ATTORNEY "mar-ran sTArEs PATENT ora ion.

RAYMOND N. EHRHART, 0F .PI'I.'lIlSlBUIR/(ir, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOTHE WESTING- HOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELASTIG'FLUID TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.- Patgnted Mai, 29, 1910.

Application filedMarch 31, 1906, Serial No; 309,152. Renewed September28, 1909. Serial No. 519,968.

'I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Riinroxo N. EH1:-

HART. a citizen of the United States, and

ing the flow of fluid from the turbine to the heating system so as tomaintain therein a constant pressure.

A further object is the production of a heating system in which motivefluid discharged from a high-pressure stage of a turbine is delivered tothe heating system.

and connected with which means are em- .ployed for delivering the excessfluid to a stage of lower pressure. p

The embodnnent of my invention herein described includes a multi-stageturbine,

which is divided into high-and low pressure sections, and a heatingsystem which re-.

eeives steam from a'high pressure section. The arrangement issuch thatall or a portionof the steam discharged from the high pressure sectionis 'deliveredto a valve, which communicates with the heating systeam,before it is delivered to the low pressure section. A special valve isutilized between the high and .low' pressure sections which is adaptedto supply fluid from the high-pressure section in regulable amounts tothe heating system so as to maintain therein a constant pressure.- Thevalve is arranged to automatically admit highpressure steam to theheating system when the fluid discharged from the high-pressure sectionofthe turbine is insuflicient to main: tain a predetermined pressuretherein, and is also arranged to bypass steam around the v heatingsystem and .into theloW-pressure section of'the turbine whenthe'pressurein the heatmg systemexceeds a predetermined plication andforming a part thereof, Figure l is a side elevation illustrating asystem of fluid passages which communicate with a heating system; andFig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a valve forming a detail of myinvention.

A turbine 2 is divided into high and low pressure sections which areinclosed within separate cylinders 3 and 4;. The'high-pressure sectionis provided with a motive fluid supply pipe 5 which is provided with ahand-operated throttle valve 6, an automatic cut-off valve 7 and agovernor-controlled admission valve 8, which admits; motive fluid(hereinafter called steam, for the'sake of brevity) to the turbine. Thecylinders 3 and 4 of the turbine are so arranged that-the steam enteringthe highpressuresection flows in one direction toward the exhaust andthrough suitable passages to the admission port of the lowpressurecylinder through which it flows in an opposite direction and isdischarged into a condenser or the atmosphere. The steam discharged fromthe high-pressure cylinder of the turbine enters a conduit, or passage9, which communicates with a casing 10-of an automatically-actuatedvalve through port 12. The casing 10 is provided with a port 13 whichcommunicates with a heating system through a valved pipe 14: and with aconduit or passage 15, which communicates with the admission portof thelow: pressure'section of the turbine, through a valve port 17. The valve11 comprises a hollow piston and reciprocates within the casing 10 tocontrol the flow of steam through the ports 12 and 17. The valve stem 18is rigidly secured to the valve 11 and extends through a suitable bush1%),

located in the casing 10, and into a cylinr' within the chamber 20.

A pipe or passage 24-communicates with a port 25, formed within'thecasing 10, and

is adaptedto admit high presSure steam to the interior passages of thecasing 10. The

chamber 20 is provided withasteam'admisr sion port/26 and an exhaustport 27. The admission port is provided with a. valve 28 'which isadapted to periodically admit steam from a plpe 29 to the upper portionof the chamber 20. The exhaust port 27 is proyided with a needle valve31, which is adapted to restrict and regulate the amount ofsteam-exhausted from the chamber 20. The valve 28 is pivotally-connectedto a lever 32, which is fulcrumed at 33 and which is-periodicallyoscillated by an eccentric 34; through an eccentric rod 35. Theeccentric 34 is driven by the shaft of the turbine and the eccentric rod35 is provided with a sleeve nut 36, which may be utilized in adjustingits length.. The flow of steam from the chamber 20 is restricted by thevalve exhaust port 27 and consequently the piston 23 is periodicallysubjected to fluid pressure admitted by the valve 28, which tends to.

close the ports 12 and 17 by moving the valve 11 downwardly toward itsseat,which' is formed on lugs 37, formed integrally with the valvecasing 10. The lugs 37 are so located that the piston valve 11 willnever entirely close the admission port 12 and'the valve 11 1S hollowand so constructed that when it is inits lowest position the port 17 isclosed and the port '25 is open. The arrangement is such that thepressure in the heating system is transmitted through the port 13 andthrough the piston valve 11 to When the pressure in the heating systemexceeds a predetermined amount, due to the valve 8 supplying extraamounts of steam to the high pressure portion of the turbine, or to thefact that the heating system is not condensing .all of the steamsupplied, the piston 22 is raised, in opposition to the periodicpressure on the plston 23, and lifts-the valve-'11, thereby admittingsteam from the port 12 to the low-pressure cylinder of the turbinethrough the port 17. The fluctuations of pressure in the chamber 20cause the valve 11 to pulsate and to periodically open the port 17amounts proportional to the eX- isting pressure in the heating system.As the pressure in the heating system continues toincrease, the valve 11is raised to such positions that it will not close the ports 12 and 17during its reciprocations and steam is, therefore, admitted to thelow-pressure cylinder of the turbine in a continuous and unthrottledstream. 1 When the pressure in the heating system falls below apredetermined pressure, the valve 11 is periodically forced by thepressure in the chamber 20 to such positions that the port closed, andthe port 25 is periodically un- 17 is periodically coveredandhighspressure steam is admitted in puffs through the hollow valve 11to the heating system. As the pressure continues to fall in theheatingsystem, the pulsations of the valve 11 decrease until, at apredetermined pressure, the valve is held by the pressure in the chamber20 against the lugs 37 and high-pressure steam is admitted in acontinuous stream in conjunction with the steam admitted through thepartially closed port 12.

The pressure maintained in the heating" system may be varied byadjusting the throw of the valve 28, by lengthening or shortening theeccentric rod 35 or by adjusting the needle valve 31 with which theexhaust port 27 is provided.

When the heating system is not in use, a'

valve 39 in 'the plpe la is closed and the valve 11 in reciprocating.admits steam di rect to the low-pressure section of the turbine. Meansmay be utilized for securing the valve 11 in such a position that theport 17 is always open. A-valve 4:1 is provided in the, pipe 24' whichadmits high-pressure steam to the interior of the valve casing 10, thatmay be closed when the heating system is not in use, or-may be utilizedin adjusting the flow of steam through the pipe during the operation ofthe heating system.

It is apparent that with such a construction the efficiency of theturbine will not be materially affected, since the low-pressure sectionwill be operating in a vacuum it connected to a condenser, during lightloads, or when the'heating system is making large demands for steam. Itis apparent also that during the operation of the heating system themotive fluid will be delivered to the low-pressure section of theturbine in accordance with the load demand. As the load on the turbineincreases, the valve 11 will respond to the variations of pressureadmitted to the interior of the valve casing 10 by the valve 8 andperiodically supply motive fluid to the low-pressure section of theturbine. As the loadon the turbine stillfurther increases, the valve 11will increase the periodic supply of steam to the low-pressure sectionand, at some predetermined load, steam is admitted in a continuousstream. Under such conditions the turbine .at all times'will answer tothe loaddemand' just as effectively as an ordinary.

turbine and the pressure in the heating sys tem will be maintainedpractically constant. The valve stem 18 is arranged project through thecasing 10 to form' a signt rod,

which discloses the position of the piston 11 and, therefore, aids inthe adjustment "of the needle valve 31' and the sleeve nuti36J.

The pressure in the chamber 20 proportioned that the valve pulsate"maybe so turbine,

pressure within said system and for proportioning the amount of fluidadmitted to a low pressure stage ofsaid turbine.

lhIIl combination with a multi-stage said low-pressure stageinaccordance with,

the pressure existing in said system.

v 15. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, aheating system, avalve for delivering motive fluid discharged from a highpressure stageof said turbine to a low-pressure stage and to said heating system,means for proportioning the delivery of fluid to said low-pressure stagein accordance with the pressure ex sting .m said system andmeans forpulsating the fluid delivered thereto.

16. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, a heating system, a valvefor deli'vering motive fluid from a higlvpressure,

- stage of said turbine and from a source other than said turbine tosaid heating system and means, dependent upon the pressure-existingwithin said system, for controlling the delivery of motive fluid to saidlow-pressure stage of the turbine.

17. In combination with a 'multi-stage turbine, a heating system, avalve for delivering .motive fluid from, a high pressure stage of saidturbine and from a source other than said turbine to said heatingsystem, means, dependent upon the pressure existing within said heatingsystem, for

controlling the delivery of motive fluid to' said low-pressure stage andmeans for pulsating the fluid delivered to said low-pressure stage.

, 18. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, a heatingsystem', avalve between a high and a low-pressure stage of said turbine, and meanswhereby said valve is adapted to proportion the delivery of motive fluidto said low-pressure stage in accordance .with the pressure existing insaid system and to p'ulsate the fluid passing it.

19. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, a heating syStem,-meansbetween said heat-ing system and said stage for delivering motive fluiddischarged from a high-pressure stage of said turbine to a lowpressurestage and to said heating system and means for proportioning thedelivery of motive fluid to said low-pressure stage in accordance withpressure existing in said system.

20. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, a heating system, meansfor delivering motive fluid discharged from a highpressure stage of saidturbine to. a lowpressure stage and to said heating system,

a heating system, avalve between pressure stage I means forproportioning the delivery of fluid to said low-pr'essure'stage inaccordance with the pressure existing in said system and means forpulsating the fluid delivered thereto.

21. In combination with a multi-stage turbine, a heating system,means'for delivering motive fluid discharged from a'highof said turbineand from a source other than said turbine to said heating system andmeans, dependent upon the pressure within said heating system, for

controlling the delivery of motive fluid to said low-pressure stage ofthe turbine.

22. In combination with a multistage turbine, a heating system, meansfor delivering motive fluid discharged from a high pressure stage ofsaid turbine and from a source other than said turbine to said heatingsystem, means, dependent upon the pressure within said heating system,for controlling the delivery of motive fluid to said low-pressure stageof the turbine and means .for pulsating the fluid delivered: to saidstage.

28. In combination, independentturbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in'series relation inperforming useful work, means in termediate Said'turbines adapted toabsorb energyf'of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbine ofthe series and mechanism for automatically bypassing said means wherebyvarying proportions of the exhaust motive fluid from the first turbineare delivered to the second turbine without passing through said means.

at. In combination, independent turbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming work, means adapted to absorb energy of a portion or allofthe mo tigve fluid exhausted from the first turbine of the series, abypass around said means, a

valve in said by-pass and means for automatically controlling theoperation of said valve.

25. In combination, independent turbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive. fluid passes in series relation inperforming useful work, means adapted to absorb the energy of aportionor all of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbine of theseries, a by-pass around said means, a valve in said by' pass and meansfor automatically controlling the operation of said valve in accord ancewith the pressure of the motive fluid iii-said means.

26. In combination, independent turbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming useful work, means adapted to absorb the energy of a portionor all of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbine of theseries, a by-pass around said means for placing said turbines in directcommunication one with the other and regulating means for automaticallyvarying the effective area of said by-pass.

27. In combination, independent turbines working at diflerent pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming useful work, means adapted to absorb the energy of a portionor all of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbine of theseries, a by-pass around saidmeans for placing said turbines in directcommunication one with theother and regulating means for automaticallyshunting all or a portion of the exhaust motive fluid fronr said firstturbine of the series around said means.

28. In combination, independentturbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming useful work, means adapted to absorb the energy of a portionor all of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbine of theseries, a by-pass around said means for placing said turbines indirectcommunication one with the other and regulating means for automaticallycontrolling the, delivery of all or a portion of the motive fluidexhausted from said first turbine to the second turbine of the series.

29. In combination, independent turbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming useful work, means adapted to absorb the energy of a portionorall of the motive fluid after it has passed through the first turbineof the series, a bypass for leading motive fluid exhaustedv from thefirst turbine of the series directly to the second turbine, a valve insaid by-pass and an agent the operation of which is dependent upon theamount of energy absorbed by said means for automatically controllingthe operation of said valve.

30. In combination, independent turbines working at different pressuresand through which the motive fluid passes in series relation inperforming work, means. for

utilizing a portion of the motive fluid exhausted from the first turbineof the series in performing useful work, a by-pass around said means anda device the operation of which depends upon the enfirgy alllr. orcontro ing te stracted by said means effective area of said by-pass.

31. In combination, independent turbines RAYMOND N. EHRHART.

l'Vitnesses:

, CHARLES W. Mc-GHEE,

R. P. MOINTYRE.

